The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 13

eljeDcsnioinrsJSrgisfcr METRO ST WEDNESDAY June 9, 2004 RANDY ESSEX, News, 515-284-8461 OT rite raw wp. SAFETY COURSE: To learn more about safety or to sign up for a safety course, which is required for children ages 12 to 17 who want to ride in Iowa's public all-terrain-vehicle parks, visit the All-Terrain Safety Institute's Web site at www.atvsafety.org or call (800) 887-2887. get somewhere, and you will have fun," said the ATV enthusiast who lives near Independence. Marcus is among the most vulnerable group of all-terrain-vehicle riders those under 16 years old. Forty percent of the all-terrain-vehicle accidents counted nationally happen to children under 16, said David Downing, snowmobile and all-terrain-vehicle program manager with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

In Iowa, 31 percent of ATV Youths under 16 are most vulnerable to accidents, but there are ways they can reduce their risks. ByJULI PROBASCO-SOWERS REGISTER STAFF WRITER Thirteen-year-old Marcus Lee has a message for other young all-terrain-vehicle riders: "Drive responsibly. Use common sense. Wear your gear. You do that and you'll accidents in 2003 involved people under 16.

That figure rises to 43 percent when 16-and 17-year-olds are added in, Downing said. Marcus Lee said he takes safety seriously, but he often sees other young riders riding recklessly by riding double or not wearing helmets. Three people died in all-terrain-vehicle accidents in Iowa in 2003, compared with eight fatalities in 2002, Downing said. "Accidents are happening because children are riding and the number is growing. Officials estimate only about a third of all-terrain vehicles are registered, which means there could be as many as 90,000 such vehicles in the state.

Marcus Lee said he wears long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, boots, gloves and a helmet when he's on his ATV. He said that even though he rides safely, he has rolled the vehicle a few times. "I was lucky I didnt get hurt, partly because of my See SAFETY, Page 3B said that any time an ATV designed for one rider is ridden by two even with a small child as the passenger the driver's maneuverability is impaired. Iowa has approximately 30,000 registered all-terrain vehicles, including both four-wheelers and dirt bikes, TODAY Nominate an iowan of the Day' The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation says today is a good time to nominate someone for the Iowan of the Day program, which will honor a volunteer each day of the fair, Aug. 12-22.

The foundation wants people who "are invaluable assets to their communities" who display "Iowa dependability, integrity and strong work ethic." The Iowan of the Day gets four grandstand tickets, $200, VIP parking, a hotel room and more. Call (800) 450-3732 for details. Luncheon has music, fashion show Threads Trills 2004, a fashion show and luncheon with music from the Des Moines Metro Opera's Summer Festival Season, starts at noon at the Airport Holiday Inn, 6111 Fleur Drive. Tickets are $30. Call 255-2839 for details.

INSIDE FENCE? WHAT k. -1, jnir, -i- -'-''Je iir.Tw- 1 will 1 4 ln --Ut 1 i- i 4 t. JS 1 machines that are too large and doing things like riding double," Downing said. Last weekend, a 3-year-old boy who was a passenger on an ATV was killed in an accident in Benton County. Dan Ween, president of the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, FENCE? Fry's Sept.

11 operation had gone disastrously awry. Leslie Fry, 45, was one of nine patients to die in the past three years after having gastric-bypass surgery performed by Chendrasekhar or his partner. The surgery, which is increasingly popular, involves drastic reduction of the stomach's capacity and a rerouting of the intestines. The lawsuit states xr? A Funding short for Newton track Developers say they're not giving up, but there is no time line. ByJEFFECKHOFF REGISTER STAFF WRITER A key developer of a proposed motorsports complex in Newton says more money needs to be raised for the $50 million project, but he refuses to speculate on how long fund raising might take.

"I would love to tell you that everything is hunky-dory and the world is perfect," said Paul Schlaack, a West Des Moines businessman who helped set up US. Motorsport Entertainment Corp. "We have called on a lot of people, and at this point, even with all that work, we do not have all the financing in place. "It's a very difficult process to raise money in this economy. This is a very large project." The project a 78-mile asphalt oval track to be built on 226 acres near Interstate Highway 80 originally was projected to open this fall.

Newton officials now have said a 2005 opening date is in doubt. Schlaack said some private money has been raised for the track, in addition to Newton's $10.3 million contribution. But he declined to give a fig ure, citing advise trom lawyers. What were seeking is we're basically offering entities a private placement of preferred stock, and we talk with individuals about their interest in a preferred stock issue," Schlaack said. "I can tell you unequivocally right now that the project is not totally financed and there is no project, effectively, until the financing is consummated in total." However, developers have no plans to give up anytime soon, Schlaack stressed.

"I think it's fair to say that this project and this financing has been a challenge, he said. "You should not presume that there is any schedule." The beach at Raccoon River Park in central Iowa remains officially closed due to high waters, but high temperatures and humidity helped people ignore the rules Tuesday afternoon. High temperatures were expected to retreat to the lower 80s today and Thursday, with a chance of thunderstorms. See weather, Page 8B. Doctor's form letter stuns widower Stating 1 have considered it a privilege to care for it was written to Leslie Fry, who had died after surgery.

By TONY LEYS REGISTER STAFF WRITER John Fry was stunned by a form letter that a surgeon sent to his West Des Moines house last month. The "Dear Patient" letter said Dr. Akella Chen-drasekhar was leaving Iowa for an impressive new job in Ohio. "I have considered it a privilege to care for you before, during and after your bariatric surgery," he wrote. The letter was addressed to Fry's wife, Leslie, who died in October of complications from a weight-loss operation performed by Chen-drasekhar.

Fry shook his head Tuesday and described the DMACC plans Ames campus Des Moines Area Community College will build a new campus in Ames to target high schoolers not on the college track. Page 3B INSIDER The Meskwaki casino near Tama is booming once again, and expansion plans are in the works. Read more in REWIND. QUOTE They treated her like an oil change. John Fry, who received a thank-you note from his wife's doctor after she died of complications from gastric bypass surgery.

INDEX Comics 4B Dateline Iowa 2B Dear Abby 6B TV Listings 7B Weather 8B $1 y' 1 a for the routine note. "This is a difficult time for the Fry family, and we apologize for the error," the statement said. The letter arrived late last month, as Fry's lawyer was preparing a malpractice lawsuit against Chendrasekhar and the clinic. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Polk County District Court, says the surgeon misread three weeks' worth of signs that Leslie damage the letter did to his already-shattered emotions. "You've got this huge hole in you, and something like this comes along and opens you a little further," he said.

The letter was written on stationery from Chen-drasekhar's Des Moines practice, the Iowa Clinic. In a statement Tuesday afternoon, clinic leaders said Leslie Fry should have been removed from the mailing list MARY CHINDTHE REGISTER Chendrasekhar's operation left Leslie Fry with a leaking intestine and raging infections. Fry said he supported his wife's decision to have the operation, which she expected would help her lose 100 pounds. "I wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to have what she wanted," he said.

Leslie Fry had tremendous, misplaced confidence in her doctor's abilities, her husband said. The surgical team at Iowa Methodist Medical Center acted like the operation was routine, he said. "They treated her like an oil See SURGERY, Page 2B See rv But for now, did not have So I was prepping for care enough I West greeted percent order and already Ann one of "He that I believe Don't scandals? Clinton's 'My Life' a break from day-to-day news generals a break and replace them with Ken Starr and Linda Tripp. We'll see Hillary going nose-to-nose with Katie and Matt complete I'm up for a little of that "I sex video. wondering how Iowans are the upcoming deluge.

Do they to even read the book? 'i A) I walked into Borders out in Des Moines, and I was by a poster offering a 40 break on the book if I in advance. I asked about that was told dozens of people are signed up. B0RSELLI0 If you believe what you read, hear and see, people are tired of all the bad news out of Iraq and the rest of the Middle East. They're particularly tired of the Abu Ghraib photos. They're tired of the Cheney-Ashcroft-Rumsfeld gang making believe we're all going to die if we dont keep G.W.

in the White House for another four years. Kobe, Martha, Scott Peterson, Michael Jacksoa Talk about depressing. And once Ronald Reagan is buried, they'll all be back on the front page and at the top of the news. So what's it going to take to get past that and on to the things Americans really care about? I was bottoming out, feeling depressed. Then I saw our ticket out of there Bill Clinton is coming back.

with file footage of her saying her husband is the victim of a "vast right-wing conspiracy." And we'll get past all the sexual innuendo of the prisoner abuse scandal and get down to the real thing. We'll see Monica Lewinsky. It could get to the point at which we'll be craving some file footage of naked Iraqis being dragged across a prison cell on a leash. Balder, in her early 70s, is not them. doesn't have anything to say want to know.

Can you ever him?" you want to read about the sex His book hits the stands on June 22. All 990 pages of "My Life." In a few more weeks, we'll stop hearing all this nonsense about the billions we're spending on the war and get back to the important stuff those millions we spent on the Whitewater investigation. Fox News will give those retired 10-star B0RSELLIN0, Page 2B.